Wednesday, September 22, 2010

In which I examine the psychological ailments exhibited by my protagonist and me

By Tracy Kiely

I suppose there is a little bit of me in all of my characters; each one a faint reflection of an aspect of my personality, be it light or dark.

We’ve all heard the expression ‘write what you know.’ But to be a true artist, you can’t merely record your experiences. You need to move beyond the shallow realm of your existence and create.For instance, I am an only child of Irish Catholic decent who hails from Northern Virginia. After high school, I attended a small women’s Catholic college where I graduated with a degree in English.

When I set out to create my protagonist Elizabeth Parker, I deliberately did not create a fictional clone of myself. Elizabeth is an Irish Catholic from Northern Virginia who attended a small Catholic women’s college and received a degree in English but she has an older sister.

It’s these details that separate fiction from reality. So with that said, I will attempt diagnose Elizabeth’s psychological ailments and then compare them with mine. I will differentiate the differences between us by the clever use of alternating font.

Feelings of Guilt:

Elizabeth is Irish and Catholic, so she carries twice the normal amount of guilt. She also had a strong sense of wrong and right; so much so that she consistently sticks her nose into situations that she thinks are unfair in an attempt to redress the wrong.In Murder At Longbourn, when the police incorrectly suspect Elizabeth’s Aunt Winnie of murder, Elizabeth immediately sets out to find the real killer.

As a child, I was deeply troubled by the Rabbit’s inability to eat a bowl of Trix and repeatedly and frantically called the 1-800 number to vote “YES” on the Let the Rabbit Eat Trix question.

Humor:

Elizabeth grew up watching an inordinate amount of “old” movies, especially the British black comedies (The Trouble with Harry and KindHearts and Coronets being two such examples and anything from Monty Python being a third.)This has resulted in her, at times, completely irreverent humor.

I once attended a funeral coordinated by a pompous ass who, in trying to invoke aKennedy-esqueCapeCod atmosphere, played a CD of waves crashing onto abeach. Unfortunately, the funeral took place in DC where a street crew was busily jack hammering out front. The two sounds combined, leaving me choking on a fit of giggles.

Social Awkwardness:

I decided to create a past for Elizabeth that included a feeling of awkwardness in high school as I have read is a common condition among many young women in our society today (I believe writers need to be aware of current issues facing our society).Elizabeth hides this awkwardness behind a veil of sarcastic wit, gleaned mainly from memorizing the lines from popular movies and Dorothy Parker antidotes.

My college yearbook quote was Dorothy Parker’s “I might repeat to myself slowly and soothingly, a list of quotations beautiful from minds profound -- if I can remember any of the damn things.”

Dating

Elizabeth’s awkwardness also led her to date several silly and unsuitable young men. Her sketchy dating record has left her insecure – another condition I understand (through extensive reading on the subject) is on the rise these days.

I once dated a guy who stood me up for prom.

So, as you can see in creating Elizabeth I have created a character that who, like a prism, only reflects a portion of me. What can I say? I’m an artist while Elizabeth has issues.

I simply don't see a resemblance. I can't believe both you and Sophie got stood up for prom. Now that we're practiced in the art of body dismemberment, I say we find those guys.

If you ever do want to really get into the skin of Elizabeth, since you are so vastly different from her, I have several older sisters you can borrow, heck, keep 'em. Then you can really write what you know and Christmas at my house will be a better place.

I too have older sisters you can borrow. And a younger one too. After you get through with Gabi's. You should probably start drinking now.

I am amazed at the huge leaps you made when creating your character. The research sounds exhausting.

My prom date showed up. It would have made the next few years easier if he hadn't. Sometimes getting stood up is better in the long run. But prom itself was really fun. We rented an island on the Wannsee in Berlin, we were all legal drinking age, and someone drank champagne out of my shoe before we all went skinny dipping in the moonlight. Yes, I used to be cool.

No one deserves the minivan. Especially after you so graciously invited all my sisters and Rebecca's too to share your holiday celebration.

Rebecca,I don't know what's worse -- being stood up for prom or being affiliated with someone so cool she rented AN ISLAND for prom. I can't even remember my prom date's name. I can sort of see him and it's not good. I remember the dress. Definitely not good. Maybe I need a minivan.

I agree with Gabi, no one deserves a minivan! I'll send you the sister with the blue 68 Camaro and you can tool around in that. She's a wild driver, but safe (so far).

I didn't personally rent the island, the junior/senior class did. But it WAS hella cool and I knew it. Berlin during the days of the Wall had its perks.

The shoe in question was a turquoise pump with a short stiletto heel and a pointy toe. I kept it for years even though it was uncomfortable because I knew, even then, no one was ever likely to drink out of my shoes again.

If it's any consolation, when my son was in first grade I was voted "parent most likely to be handed used gum." It ain't all glamour.

Rebecca is STILL cool. I spent a couple of days with her--but not in the biblical sense, get yer minds out of the gutter!--so I oughta know. We did not, sadly, drink Champagne from her shoe. Or mine. We ate butterburgers at Culver's and went to bookstores at malls.

The parent mose like to CHEW USED GUM? Oh good grief. Please tell me there isn't really one of those. No. Wait. I don't want to know.

Shane,Anyone who feels compelled to deny biblical knowledge -- or drinking from shoes for that matter -- well, remains highly suspect. He who doth protest too much and all. It could be worse. I could think you're the parent most likely to chew used gum.

Glad I dodged the "most likely to chew used gum" bullet. Remember that scene in ELF? Ewwww....

Shane is quite cool himself. We drove around getting free drinks everywhere we stopped 'cause I was with the Fabulous Gericke. Plus he had so many books to sign I had to flap for him. It was mountains of books. I was glad they gave me water.

Butterburgers, but no cheese curd. Maybe next year.

Gabi, he DOES do that protesting thing suspiciously much, doesn't he? Hmmm......I'll never tell. :)

Q&A with Criminal Minds!

Question of the Week

Each week the crime fiction authors of Criminal Minds respond to a question about writing, reading, murder and mayhem.Question of the Week:

There's only so many ways to sing the blues and yet no one ever asks blues musicians why they're still doing it. Do you ever feel restricted by the constraints of the crime genre or overwhelmed by what's out there?

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Mondays with Susan

Susan C. Shea spent more than two decades as a non-profit executive before beginning her best-selling Dani O’Rourke mystery series featuring a professional fundraiser for a fictional museum. She lives in Marin County, CA.

Mondays with Meredith

Meredith Cole won the St. Martin’s/Malice Domestic Best First Traditional Mystery competition for POSED FOR MURDER, and was nominated for an Agatha award. Her second book, DEAD IN THE WATER, came out in 2010.

Tuesdays with Robin

Robin Spano is the author of the fun and edgy Clare Vengel undercover cop series. Robin grew up in Toronto, studied physics in New Brunswick, dropped out to travel North America on her motorcycle, and now lives (and writes) in Lions Bay, BC.

Tuesdays with R.J.

R.J. Harlick is the author of the acclaimed Meg Harris mystery series set in the wilds of Quebec. Her love for Canada’s untamed wilds is the inspiration for her series. The 4th book, Arctic Blue Death, was a finalist for the Arthur Ellis Award for Best Novel.

Wednesdays with Clare

Clare O'Donohue is the author of the Someday Quilts and the Kate Conway Mysteries, as well as two e-novellas. She also works as a TV producer, specializing in true crime shows.

Wednesdays with Tracy

Tracy Kiely is the author of MURDER AT LONGBOURN, MURDER ON THE BRIDE'S SIDE, MURDER MOST PERSUASIVE, and MURDER MOST AUSTEN from St. Martin's Minotaur.

Thursdays with Catriona

Catriona McPherson is the Anthony, Agatha, Macavity, IndieFab and Lefty winning author of the DANDY GILVER series set in Scotland in the 1920s, as well as two darker stand-alones AS SHE LEFT IT and THE DAY SHE DIED. Catriona lives in northern California with a black cat and a scientist.

Thursdays with Alan

Alan Orloff writes the Last Laff Mystery series, featuring a stand-up comic with a tragic past (KILLER ROUTINE and DEADLY CAMPAIGN). His first book, DIAMONDS FOR THE DEAD, was nominated for an Agatha Award. He lives in Northern VA.

Fridays with Paul

Paul D. Marks pulled a gun on the LAPD...and lived to tell about. A former "script doctor," Paul's novel WHITE HEAT is a 2013 SHAMUS AWARD WINNER. Publishers Weekly calls WHITE HEAT a "taut crime yarn." Paul is also the author of over thirty published short stories in a variety of genres, including several award winners.

Fridays with Art

Art Taylor is a short story writer whose work has won the Agatha and Macavity Awards as well as three consecutive Derringer Awards. His debut book, ON THE ROAD WITH DEL AND LOUISE: A NOVEL IN STORIES, will be published in September 2015 by Henery Press.